Shloka 25

Oṣadhi-nāma-nirdeśa: Paryāya (Synonyms) of Herbs, Minerals, and Classical Measures

Devanagari script

धात्रीमामलकीं विद्यादक्षश्चैव विभीतकः / पथ्याभया च विज्ञेया पूतना च हरीतकी

Transliteration

dhātrīmāmalakīṃ vidyādakṣaścaiva vibhītakaḥ / pathyābhayā ca vijñeyā pūtanā ca harītakī

Translation

ധാത്രിയെ ‘ആമലകി’ (നെല്ലിക്ക) എന്നു അറിയുക; ‘അക്ഷ’ എന്നത് തന്നെ ‘വിഭീതക’ ആകുന്നു. ‘പഥ്യാ’യെ ‘അഭയാ’യായി ഗ്രഹിക്കണം; ‘പൂതനാ’യെ ‘ഹരീതകി’ എന്നു പറയുന്നു।

Word by Word

• धात्रीम्: Dhātrī (name)
• धात्रीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धात्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• आमलकीम्: Āmalakī (Indian gooseberry)
• आमलकीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आमलकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• विद्यात्: one should know
• विद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अक्षः: Akṣa (name)
• अक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (indeed/just)

• विभीतकः: Vibhītaka (beleric myrobalan)
• विभीतकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभीतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• पथ्याभया: Pathyā and Abhayā (names)
• पथ्याभया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथ्या + अभया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (pathyā and abhayā)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• विज्ञेया: should be known/recognized
• विज्ञेया: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कर्तव्य/विधेय कृदन्त (तव्यत्/य), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; (to be recognized)

• पूतना: Pūtanā (name)
• पूतना: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूतना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• हरीतकी: Harītakī (chebulic myrobalan)
• हरीतकी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरीतकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Synonym-mapping of foundational Āyurvedic fruits: dhātrī=āmalakī, akṣa=vibhītaka, pathyā=abhayā, pūtanā=harītakī.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda as a tool: correct linguistic knowledge prevents viparyaya (error) in action.

Application: For Triphalā and related recipes, ensure the correct identification of the three fruits despite regional/lexical name variation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204 (fruit/herb synonym lists; Triphalā context continues)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of identifying dhātrī as āmalakī in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a glossary: it clarifies synonymous names of medicinal plants so that ritual, medicinal, or dharmic instructions elsewhere in the text are interpreted correctly.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it supports correct understanding of technical terminology—useful when the text later prescribes remedies, purifications, or observances connected with wellbeing and dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reliable synonym key when reading traditional sources: dhātrī = āmalakī, akṣa = vibhītaka, and abhayā/pūtanā/pathyā are names associated with harītakī—helping avoid confusion in study and practice.